Alcohol affects everyone differently. Some become intoxicated
with the first drink; others can drink a lot more before they show
effects.

As far as the body is concerned, alcohol is a
poison. Some of the effects of chronic alcohol consumption include
damage to the brain, liver, pancreas, stomach, small intestine and central
nervous system. It is one of the few substances that can penetrate the
lining of the stomach and cause damage. Alcohol can cause metabolic
damage and depresses the immune system.

Alcohol is broken down in
the liver. The repeated consumption of alcohol inhibits the liver's
production of digestive enzymes, impairing the body's ability to absorb
proteins, fats, and the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), as well as
the B-complex vitamins and other water-soluble vitamins. Normally
the liver either stores nutrients it receives or, after processing, sends
them back into your bloodstream to be used throughout the body. When the
liver is not functioning well due to alcohol many essential nutrients are
not retained for use by the body; they are rapidly eliminated through the
urine.

The toxic effect of alcohol on the liver is
very serious. First, excessive amounts of fat accumulate in the
liver, a result of alcohol's effect on the body's ability to digest fats
properly. The liver is one of the most robust organs in
the body. It has the ability to regenerate itself after certain
types of damage. Up to one quarter of the liver can be removed, and
within a short period of time, it will grow back to its original shape and
size. Alcohol is one of the toxins that the liver doesn't handle as well
as others. The liver cannot regenerate after being severely damaged by
alcohol.

On hangovers

You wake up with a throbbing head; you
can't stand the light, your trembling..... You have a hangover. Could this
have been prevented?

The formal name for hangover is veisalgia from the Norwegian word Kveis
for "uneasiness following debauchery" and the Greek word Algia
for "pain". An appropriate title. A hangover usually
includes headache, poor sense of overall well-being, sensitivity to light
and sound, diarrhea, loss of appetite, trembling, nausea, fatigue,
increased heart rate and blood pressure, dehydration (dry mouth, extreme
thirst,and dry eyes), trouble concentrating, anxiety, difficultly sleeping,
and weakness. The severity and number of symptoms varying with
the person. It is true that the more alcohol that is consumed, the
worse the hangover will be. Hangovers can be made worse by drinking
on an empty stomach, lack of sleep, increased physical activity while
drinking, dehydration before drinking and poor health.

Why?

When alcohol goes into the bloodstream it causes the pituitary gland to
block the creation of "vasopression". Without this
chemical the kidneys send the water directly to the bladder instead of
reabsorbing it into the body. The body will lose 4 times the amount
of liquid that it gained. Thus you get really thirsty
the next morning and a headache that is a result of
dehydration. The body will actually take water from the brain
causing it to decrease in size and pull on the membranes that connect the
brain to the skull - ouch!

Frequent urination also expels salts, electrolytes
such as magnesium and potassium that are necessary for nerve and muscle functions
- this can result in headaches, fatigue and nausea as
well.

The liver breaks down the body's store of glycogen and turns it into
glucose and sends it out of the body resulting in a key energy source

Alcohol is absorbed directly through the stomach. The cells that
line the stomach become irritated. The message finally gets to the
brain that the contents are hurting it and must be expelled through
vomiting. Unpleasant as it sounds this mechanism can actually
lessen the hangover by getting rid of the toxins and makes you feel
better. The stomachs irritation also contributes to the
diarrhea and lack of appetite.

Alcohol creates deficiencies which
contribute to neuropathy
as a side effect.

We have used our best judgment in compiling this information. The Food and Drug Administration may not have evaluated the information presented. Any reference to a specific product is for your information only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease